...
"You have created a new group chat."
"You have changed the group chat name to 'Which Family Has the Best Cooking Skills?'."
"'What Should We Eat Today?' has joined the group chat."
"'number one' has joined the group chat."
"'Miss Orange Cat' has joined the group chat."
"'The Brain of the Group' has joined the group chat."
...
Practical classes wouldn't start until next semester, but that didn't stop Lucian from setting up the class group chat in advance.
He asked Ines Fujin, Rice Shower, and Mejiro McQueen to invite the racehorses they knew from the list into the group.
At first glance, Lucian found these usernames quite amusing.
Lucian: "Everyone who joined the group, please change your nickname to your real name. All future homework notices will be posted here."
Since it was a course, there would be credits and assessments—though they'd likely be lenient.
Lucian genuinely hoped they could learn some cooking skills from this.
Miss Orange Cat: "OK."
This "Miss Orange Cat" changed her group nickname to "Doto."
"number one" changed theirs to "Nice Nature."
"The Brain of the Group" turned out to be Matikanetannhauser.
"What Should We Eat Today?" was Oguri Cap.
As for Grass Wonder, Twin Turbo, and Tamamo Cross, Lucian couldn't figure out their usernames.
Oguri Cap: "May I ask when the class starts? Will the teacher demonstrate live during class? Can I taste the food?"
Lucian: "Yes."
Ines Fujin: "Trainer Lucian is so cold? Seems like a hard person to get along with (whispering.jpg)."
Lucian chuckled at his phone. Little Ines… it felt like he hadn't seen her in a while.
Grass Wonder: "Yeah, I wonder if he'll punish students for cooking poorly. Kinda scary."
The two of them were joking, but some took it seriously.
Matikanetannhauser: "That's terrifying… is it too late to drop the class? ヽ(*.＞Д＜)o"
Twin Turbo: "Huh?! Seriously?! Trainer Lucian would actually bully horse girls?!"
Lucian: "Don't listen to their nonsense. How could I possibly have the strength to punish any of you?"
Doto: "Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you. o(=•ェ•=)m"
Nice Nature: "Hello, Doto. Remember me? We've met before."
Doto: "I remember. Hello, Natchan."
Rice Shower: "Doto-chan, long time no see."
Doto: "Rice Shower, ฅ( ̳• ·̫ • ̳), it's been a while."
...
The group chat gradually grew livelier. Shielded by the anonymity of the internet, even the usually introverted Rice Shower and Doto became more talkative.
Lucian quietly edited a group notice and sent it:
"The class start date hasn't been decided yet, but it'll likely be next semester. I'm happy to be teaching all of you."
Everyone continued chatting, but after sending the message, Lucian didn't join in further.
The team-building event had just ended. The tables were cleared, but the dishes still needed washing.
No one stayed behind to help him today—had their love for him faded already?~
Lucian let out a silly laugh, but his gaze suddenly caught a bag left on the sofa.
His first thought wasn't "Whose is this?" but rather, "Whose scheme is this?"
Just as he was about to walk over and inspect it, the doorbell rang.
"Oh, coming!"
He headed to the door, feeling oddly expectant—it was like opening a mystery box.
"Spe?" Lucian opened the door, slightly surprised. He'd considered Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka but hadn't expected Special Week.
What he didn't know was that the other two had canceled each other out, leaving Special Week to seize the opportunity.
"Trainer, I left my bag here."
"Ah, I was just wondering whose it was." Lucian fully opened the door. "Go grab it. Don't forget next time."
"Mhm~"
Special Week walked to the sofa to pick up her bag, then returned to the doorway.
She really had forgotten it, but now that she was here, leaving just like that felt… regrettable.
Like heaven had given her a chance, and she wasn't making the most of it.
So, Special Week slowly stopped in front of Lucian.
"Did you forget something else? Or are you staying to help me wash the dishes?"
Special Week didn't answer. Instead, she took a deep breath, shut the door behind her, and turned to face Lucian with a serious expression.
"Trainer."
"What's this all of a sudden? Why so serious?"
"You… don't you want to be closer to me?" Special Week clenched her fists, her gaze unwavering.
"Not at all, it's just that we just ate—"
"I don't mind!"
The usually soft-spoken Special Week had a domineering side too. She grabbed Lucian's collar and pulled him into a kiss.
Still inexperienced, yet still forceful.
She loved nibbling on Lucian's lips, letting her rows of white teeth ride the rollercoaster of sensation over and over.
Lucian also got the feeling that Special Week was experimenting—guided by some theory, exploring relentlessly.
When a mint candy suddenly appeared in Lucian's mouth, its cool freshness purifying his breath, he finally understood why Special Week hadn't minded the timing.
But the good times didn't last. Lucian suddenly let out a pained hiss. "Ouch—"
Panicked, Special Week quickly pulled away.
"T-Trainer! Are you okay?! Did I hurt you?!"
Lucian lightly touched his tongue to his thumb, where a clear red mark had formed. "It's fine. Just a little mishap."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Trainer Lucian…" Special Week bowed repeatedly, consumed by guilt.
But even amid her remorse, after roughing him up a bit, she couldn't deny the thrill it gave her.
"It's alright, just a tiny sting." Lucian waved it off, deciding he'd have to guide Special Week more carefully in the future.
"T-Then, Trainer, let me soothe it for you…"
"How are you going to soothe it?"
"Trainer, come a little closer…" Special Week's voice grew smaller with each word, each one sapping her courage—yet also deepening her affection for Lucian.
"Come closer?" Lucian tilted his head slightly, but before he could lean in, Special Week slowly parted her lips.
Oh… not with her hands, then.
Lucian stopped himself just in time, smiling at Special Week.
"T-Trainer, what's wrong?" Special Week couldn't meet his eyes, her head burning like a furnace, incinerating all rational thought.
"Nothing. Just thinking how cute Spe-chan is." Lucian pinched Special Week's chin. "Hug me."
"Mhm…" Special Week nestled into Lucian's arms.
Lucian continued issuing commands like he was training a pet. "Look up."
She raised her chin, her trembling eyebrows betraying her nerves.
"Soothe it, then."
...
How's this protagonist? Does he come on too strong?